Перші люди на Місяці
Chapter 18 — In the Sunlight
Tomeitseemsthatsincefirstwecameoutofthespherehasbeenonlyaquestionofhours—longhours—atmost.”
“Tendays,”Isaid;“thatleaves—”Ilookedupatthesunforamoment,andthensawthatitwashalfwayfromthezenithtothewesternedgeofthings.“Fourdays!...Cavor,wemustn’tsithereanddream.Howdoyouthinkwemaybegin?”
Istoodup.“Wemustgetafixedpointwecanrecognise—wemighthoistaflag,orahandkerchief,orsomething—andquartertheground,andworkroundthat.”
Hestoodupbesideme.
“Yes,”hesaid,“thereisnothingforitbuttohuntthesphere.Nothing.Wemayfindit—certainlywemayfindit.Andifnot—”
“Wemustkeeponlooking.”
Helookedthiswayandthat,glancedupattheskyanddownatthetunnel,andastonishedmebyasuddengestureofimpatience.“Oh!butwehavedonefoolishly!Tohavecometothispass!Thinkhowitmighthavebeen,andthethingswemighthavedone!”
“Wemightdosomethingyet.”
“Neverthethingwemighthavedone.Herebelowourfeetisaworld.Thinkofwhatthatworldmustbe!Thinkofthatmachinewesaw,andthelidandtheshaft!Theywerejustremoteoutlyingthings,andthosecreatureswehaveseenandfoughtwithnomorethanignorantpeasants,dwellersintheoutskirts,yokelsandlabourershalfakintobrutes.Downbelow!Cavernsbeneathcaverns,tunnels,structures,ways...Itmustopenout,andbegreaterandwiderandmorepopulousasonedescends.Assuredly.Rightdownatthelastthecentralseathatwashesroundthecoreofthemoon.
